Author(s): Emily S Thompson

Abstract: The progressive deterioration of multi-storey residential buildings presents a critical challenge to urban infrastructure management, particularly in rapidly developing regions where building stocks are aging at an accelerated pace. This study investigates the correlation between building age and defect patterns across a sample of 120 residential structures representing four distinct age cohorts. Using field surveys, defect audits, and municipal data validation, both structural and non-structural defects were catalogued and analyzed. Statistical tools, including Pearson and Spearman correlation tests, multiple linear regression, and one-way ANOVA, were employed to evaluate the strength and nature of relationships between building age, environmental exposure, maintenance frequency, and the Total Defect Index (TDI). The results reveal a strong positive correlation between building age and TDI, confirming that older buildings exhibit not only higher defect frequency but also greater severity-weighted defect accumulation. Regression analysis further indicates that while age and environmental exposure significantly increase defect risks, regular maintenance frequency exerts a mitigating effect, reducing overall deterioration rates. The ANOVA results demonstrate statistically significant variations in defect severity among different age groups, particularly beyond 30 years of service life, where cumulative structural fatigue and material degradation become critical. The findings substantiate the hypothesis that aging, coupled with inadequate maintenance and environmental stressors, intensifies defect manifestation. Practical recommendations emerging from the study include the adoption of age-stratified maintenance programs, mandatory periodic condition audits, integration of predictive maintenance models, and the institutionalization of preventive inspection frameworks to enhance long-term building sustainability. The study concludes that a data-driven understanding of the age-defect relationship is vital for extending building service life, optimizing maintenance costs, and ensuring occupant safety and satisfaction in the residential sector.

Pages: 06-11 | Views: 3 | Downloads: 2

Download Full Article: Click Here